RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Fourth play fifth in mouth-watering clash
RB Leipzig
Having picked up 59 points from 30 matches, Leipzig are sitting in the top four with a two-point buffer to Dortmund in fifth. With the Bundesliga close to securing an extra Champions League spot, it appears more than likely that both Leipzig and Dortmund will be in UEFA’s premier club competition next season. Nevertheless, die Roten Bullen will still be keen to hold onto their current position and claim a sixth consecutive top-four finish.
Leipzig will carry significant momentum into Saturday’s contest after winning six of their previous seven league matches, including each of their last three. Benjamin Šeško saw his opener cancelled out in Leipzig’s most recent outing against Heidenheim, before Loïs Openda netted an 85th-minute winner to clinch all three points.
Marco Rose’s side will now return to the Red Bull Arena, where they have put together a five-game unbeaten home run without conceding a single goal (W4, D1).
Team News
Leipzig are unable to call upon Christopher Lenz due to a muscle injury.
Borussia Dortmund
Last weekend, Dortmund went agonisingly close to becoming the first team to beat Bayer Leverkusen this season. Niclas Füllkrug thought he had won the game when he found the net in the 81st minute, only to see his effort cancelled out by Josip Stanišić’s 97th-minute equaliser. As a result of the draw, Dortmund have now gone two home league matches without a win.
Die Schwarzgelben will have one eye on their Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. But, before they go head-to-head with the French giants, Dortmund will attempt to claim a win that would move them into the top four of the Bundesliga table.
The visitors can take confidence from the fact they have won each of their last four top-flight away games. However, Dortmund have lost their previous three competitive away matches against Leipzig. As a result of that run, they are looking to beat Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena for the first time since January 2021.
Team News
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic has revealed that Donyell Malen is set to miss a second straight game through injury. The visitors are also without Ramy Bansebaini and Sebastien Haller, while Emre Can and Ian Maatsen are both set to serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.